Senior Food Scientist

John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.; Elgin (IL); On-site; USD 90,396 - 124,294; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental and Vision Benefits

Company Paid Life, Accident and Disability Benefits

Tuition Reimbursement

Student Loan Repayment Program

Paid Time Off

401(k) Plan with a 4% Company Match

Annual Bonus Plans

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company is seeking a Senior Food Scientist in Elgin, Illinois. This role involves leading technical project management and new product development in a dynamic environment. The ideal candidate has a strong background in food science, project management, and innovation and is proficient in Microsoft Office. This is a full-time, on-site position offering a competitive salary and benefits package.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of experience in the food industry, specifically in R&D and/or product development.
• Proven track record of technical innovation and product development.
• Experience in consumer-driven product development is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical project management for consumer-driven products.
• Work with teams to develop formulas and processes for commercialization.
• Collaborate with internal and external customers on new items and innovation.

Skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications

Excellent communication skills

Strong organizational abilities

Project management skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science/Technology

Master’s or Ph.D. in Science or Engineering

Tools

Product Vision software

Job description

John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. provided pay range

This range is provided by John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$90,396.00/yr - $124,294.00/yr

Summary of Position

The Senior Food Scientist is responsible for technical project management, new product development, product optimization, cost reduction, and quality improvement across all JBSS business channels and product categories. This role provides technical leadership in developing private-label innovative products such as nuts, mixes, snacks, and bars. The Senior Food Scientist also manages customer relationships, leads projects from benchtop to commercialization, and supports sample requests and innovation initiatives.

*Position is 4 days a week on-site*

*This position is not eligible for sponsorship.*

Functions of the Position

• Lead technical project management, including organizing team meetings, assessing risks, and collaborating cross-functionally to deliver consumer-driven products.
• Work with engineering, packaging, and operations teams to develop formulas and processes for commercialization.
• Collaborate with internal teams (marketing, sales) and external customers on new items, sample requests, and innovation projects.
• Source new raw materials, flavors, and resources through external suppliers and leverage sensory evaluation tools.
• Partner with R&D, production, accounting, and procurement to create innovative, on-trend formulas aligned with JBSS capabilities.
• Integrate into production processes, working with schedulers, supervisors, operators, packaging, and QA to scale up and launch products.
• Document raw material and finished goods specifications and maintain R&D records.
• Support cost optimization projects and collaborate on allergen, Kosher, labeling, specification, and claims issues.

Education, Experience, and Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science/Technology, Food or Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific field (required).
• Master’s or Ph.D. in Science or Engineering (preferred).
• Five or more years of experience in the food industry, specifically in R&D and/or product development; private label experience preferred.
• Proven track record of technical innovation and product development in food products.
• Experience in consumer-driven product development is highly desirable.
• Strong project management skills, including defining scope, influencing stakeholders, and demonstrating leadership.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements preferred; experience with Product Vision software is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to lead low- to medium-complexity projects and adapt to changing priorities.

Skills and Competencies

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities.

Additionally, we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes the following:

• Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
• Company Paid Life, Accident and Disability Benefits
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Student Loan Repayment Program
• Paid Time Off, Paid Wellness Days, Paid Parental Leaves, Paid Volunteer Time Off
• Family Planning Program and Adoption Assistance Program
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Annual Bonus Plans
• 401(k) Plan with a 4% Company Match
• HSA (with Company Match), Health FSA, and Dependent Care FSA

For a full listing of our extensive benefits package, please refer to the Careers page on our website, located here: https://jbssinc.com/careers/

JBSS is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran.

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Manufacturing

Industries

Food and Beverage Manufacturing and Manufacturing

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